124 Traffic Accidents Due to Drunk Driving in Nepal Last Month, 12 Dead

Kathmandu. Last month in Baishakh, 124 vehicle accidents occurred across the country due to driving under the influence of alcohol (DUI), the Nepal Police informed. 12 people died in these accidents while 174 were injured.

In Kathmandu Valley alone, 37 vehicle accidents occurred last month in Baishakh, resulting in two deaths and 50 injuries, informed Nepal Police Central Police Spokesperson and Deputy Inspector General of Police Awinarayan Kafle.

According to him, 35 vehicle accidents in Koshi Province resulted in two deaths and 53 injuries. In Madhesh Province, 20 vehicle accidents resulted in 27 injuries. In Bagmati Province, 12 accidents resulted in one death and 19 injuries.

Similarly, in Gandaki Province, five accidents resulted in four deaths and three injuries. In Lumbini Province, nine accidents resulted in three deaths and 15 injuries.

Furthermore, in Karnali Province, three accidents resulted in three injuries, and in Sudurpashchim Province, three accidents also resulted in four injuries, the police informed.

Stating that the risk of vehicle accidents is increasing due to DUI, Spokesperson Kafle urged all drivers to follow traffic rules. He informed that the trend of driving under the influence of alcohol is particularly high during the night, on public holidays, and during various festivals. He mentioned that driving under the influence of alcohol is not only a serious legal offense but also an extremely risky act for human life.

The traffic police have stated that they have made the DUI control campaign more effective across the country recently. The police informed that traffic checks have been intensified, especially in urban areas, highways, busy intersections, and during the night. The head of the Kathmandu Valley Traffic Police Office and Senior Superintendent of Police Navraj Adhikari stated that drivers caught driving under the influence are being prosecuted according to the law, and public awareness programs are also being conducted.

He said, "Traffic police are also conducting public awareness programs, urging all drivers and the general public to be responsible by not driving under the influence of alcohol and for safe travel." According to him, after consuming alcohol, a driver's decision-making ability weakens, control over the vehicle becomes difficult, and the tendency to drive at high speeds increases, leading to a high probability of accidents.

He urged all drivers to exercise complete caution while driving and to follow traffic rules.